Ukrainian Rhapsody

Alexander Rosenblatt for his new piece, Ukrainian Rhapsody (2022): Those audiences who are familiar with my work know that a large part of my compositions are variations, fantasies, potpourri on famous themes, melodies by famous composers (Mozart, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Schumann, Paganini, Chopin, Mussorgsky, Borodin, Wagner, Liszt, Bizet, Prokofiev, etc. ), as well as fantasies based on folk melodies of various nations (Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Christmas, etc.). Amazingly beautiful and "cheerful" Ukrainian melodies have always attracted my attention and inspired my desire to fantasize with them. The first sketches of "Ukrainian Rhapsody" were made 6-7 years ago. The absurd and tragic political situation after February 24^th , 2022 spurred me on and I finished my work in a few months. I am deeply convinced that when "the guns speak, the muses not only do not remain silent" but "scream", because "only culture", according to Academician Likhachev's accurate expression, "justifies the presence of man as a species on our planet". In addition to the popular melodies "Nich yaka miesychna" and "Reve ta stogne Dnipr Shirokiy", I used several gopaks and the main theme "Vidy, vidy Vanku" from the finale of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto ( whose roots are Ukrainian, by the way) in the Rhapsody. As always, I used a selection of jazz elements (rhythms, melodic lines, harmonies) for the treatment of the popular themes. When I wrote this piece, I offered it to soloists and orchestras of my acquaintance, and I was very happy when the remarkable pianist and friend of mine, Ludmil Angelov, was the first to respond.